Paper-lifting mechanism.



N0. 7l5,905. Patented D60. l6, I902.

TUCK 8. A WWASSMANN, PAPER LIFTING MECHANISM,

(Application filed Feb. 21; 1902.

(No Model.)

UNITE rates ATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. TUOK, OF RICHMOND HILL, AND AUGUST WASSMANN, OF ASTORIA, NEWYORK, ASSIGNORS TO ABBOT AUGUSTUS LOW, OF

HORSESI-IOE, NE W YORK.

PAPER-LIFTING MECHANISM.

SZPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,905, datedDecember 16, 1902. Application filed Fehruary 21, 1902. Serial No.95,023. (No model.)

skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use thesame.

ur improvements relate to what are known as suction-fingers inpaper-manipulatingmechanism, and are designed to render the same morecertain and positive in operation. As ordinarily constructed and usedthe suction-fingers are each formed with a single.

concavity on the under side. As a result, if there is any decidedunevenness or irregularity of surface in the paper to be lifted andtransferred or if the paper becomes bent or crumpled the suction exertedthrough the finger isinefifectnal, since airleaks in between the paperand the edges of the suction-finger and the requisite partial vacuumcannot be attained therein. We obviate this difficulty by forming thesuction-finger with a plurality of openings on its under side, openinginto a common vacuum-chamber, and by providing each opening with a valvewhich acts automatically, if there is a leak of air into such opening,to close the passage into the main vacuum-chamber, and thereby allow theedges of the remaining openings to'maintain their hold on the paper.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal verticalsection of our improved form of suction-finger; Fig. 2, a transversesection upon plane of line 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, aview of the under sideof the suction-finger.

The suction-finger F, in general form and arrangement, is essentiallythe same as those heretofore in use, being connected, by flexible tubingattached to its shank f, with suitable vacuum apparatus and beingmounted and operating in the usual and well-known manner. The openin g fin the shank f communicates with the longitudinal vacuumchamberf which,instead of having a single extended opening in the underside of thefinger-piece, is formed with a series of airducts a a, which open intovalve-chambers, formed in turn with openings 61 d, the lips of whichbear upon the paper. The air-valves c 0 may be of any desired form. Inthe construction shown in the drawings they consist of balls 0- c,slightly larger in diameter than the ducts a a, and suctionopenings d01. Thus when the paper to the surface of which the suction-finger isapplied is smooth and even the suction exerted through the openingsdddraws the adjoining paper against the lip-openings d d and holds itthere as long as the partial vacuum is maintained within the chamberf Incase, however, of a rough or uneven surface under or adjoining one ofthe openings (1 air will rush into that particular valve-chamber andforce its valve 0 against the air-duct 0,, thereby preserving thepartial vacuum in the chamber f and maintaining the hold of the'otheropenings d d upon the paper.

'Any desired or suitable number of openings and valves may be providedfor the vacuum -finger. The greater the number employed the greater willbe the certainty and delicacy of operation of the finger, which ispractically rendered positive in action byour invention.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. A device for lifting and transferring sheets of paper formed with avacuum-chamber having a plurality of openings in which are situatedloosely-mounted automatic airvalves each confined wholly withinitslopening, for the purpose set forth.

2. Asuction-finger for lifting and transferring sheets of paper formedwith a vacuum-chamber having a plurality of air ducts and chambers ineach of which is situated a loosely-mounted automatic valve confinedwholly within its chamber, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a suction-finger F, the combination of the common vacuum-chamber fthe series of air-ducts a, a, the ball-valves c, c, and

the suction-ports d, (:2, arranged and operating I ball-valves looselymounted in such charn- 1o substantiallyin the manner and for the purbersof greater diameter than said ducts and pose described.suction-openings, and adapted to serve sub- 4.Asuction-fingei-Fhavingtubuiarshank, stantiaily as shown and described.

continuous vacuum-chamber, a series of air- WILLIAM W. TUCK.

ducts leading therefrom, independent cham- AUGUST WASSMANN.

bers into which said ducts lead, the bottom Witnesses:

of said finger having openings, the lips of D. WV. GARDNER,

which are adapted to bear upon the paper, and F. E. ROACH.

